Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).

photo 1 of 15

Shane Nelson

Training: I do my strength and conditioning at 10am with Marv Marinovich - we do water workouts, sprints and get some strength and explosion training. Then I go home, rest and head back to the gym at 5pm to do my skill work, spar, grappling, and wrestling with BJ and the rest of our team.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started fighting about 4 years ago and just kinda fell into it. I was just training jiu-jitsu at BJ’s gym and was watching him and some of our other guys fight and decided it would be something I would be good at. At the time I was getting in trouble fighting on the streets, so I took that negative and turned it into a positive.

What titles have you held? X1 155lb title, which I relinquished when I went on TUF 8

Do you have any heroes? One of my heroes would definitely have to be BJ Penn. I grew up watching him fight and he kinda inspired me that anybody can become a champion with the right training and mindset and I hope to become a legend in the sport as he has and represent Hawaii well and make the people proud.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? To fight in the UFC means everything to me. It’s been my dream ever since I started training – it’s the Super Bowl of MMA and that’s where I wanna be - with the best promotion fighting the best guys out there.

What was your job before you started fighting? My job was and still is construction, but now that I got back from TUF8 I’ve taken some time off and have just been training full time. You have to train full time to be a champion and you need to make sacrifices to follow your dreams. After being on the show I realized how much better of a fighter you become training twice a day and your game just gets so much better a lot quicker, so I’m sticking with it.

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Purple belt in jiu-jitsu under BJ Penn

Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).